Top 10 best value for money gins
As the second “gin craze” continues, the industry has become awash with high quality, innovative expressions, making choice infinitely more difficult for consumers.
This is our pick of the top 10 best value for money gins best on the results of The Global Gin Masters 2015But do not fear, help is at hand. Earlier this year, The Spirits Business held its annual Global Gin Masters, where an experienced panel of judges recognsied the best bottlings in the business.
Looking across multiple categories, from Ultra-Premium to Old Tom and Contemporary, with entrants from producers of all scales, the competition saw a number of gins awarded Master medals for their outstanding quality.
While the individual scores of each entrant are not disclosed, these are 10 of the highest ranking Master medalists recognised in the competition, listed in no particular order.
Readers may notice that not all of these bottlings are standard priced, but have been judged to offer the offer excellent quality to consumers within their respective price categories.
Click through the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money gins of 2015.
Hernö Old Tom Gin
Price: approx £36.65
Super-premium Hernö Old Tom Gin was described by Masters judges as having a “lovely” taste profile that is suited to mixing in a cocktail. Using the same production method and eight core botanicals as other Hernö gins, the expression receives an extra amount of meadowsweet during distillation, while a “touch” of sugar and honey is added after dilution to create the classic Old Tom gin taste. Based in Sweden, Hernö recently revealed it is quadrupling capacity to meet soaring international demand.
Makar Glasgow Gin
Price: approx £34.95
Makar Glasgow Gin is the first gin to be distilled in Glasgow in more than 100 years and is created by the Glasgow Distillery Company. Named after the Gaelic word for poet or bard, the 43% abv dry gin is juniper-led and contains rosemary and black peppercorns among its botanicals. Its launch marked the victory of the Glasgow Distillery Company in winning the race against the Glasgow Distillery and Visitors’ Centre to become the city’s first gin and malt whisky distillery in a century.
Williams Great British Extra Dry
Price: approx £27.19
Created by famed British producer Chase Distillery, Williams Great British Extra Dry is created in a true farm-to-bottle fashion, distilled using Chase’s Naked Vodka, which has previously been distilled from organically home-grown potatoes. This separates it from many other gins, which redistill neutral grain spirit. The gin’s botanicals include cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, almond, coriander, cardamom, cloves, liquorice and lemon, in addition to plenty of juniper buds and berries to create a dry profile.
Berkeley Square London Dry Gin
Price: approx £32.64
London-inspired Berkeley Square London Dry Gin, created by G & J Greeenall and owned by Quintessential Brands, is touted as the “single malt” of the gin world. Distilled in a traditional pot still, the gin is made with botanicals including basil, kaffir lime leaves and lavender.
Hayman’s Family Reserve Gin
Price: approx £29.95
Another super-premium Master medalist is Hayman’s Family Reserve Gin, which is said to reflect the classic style of 19th century gins sold in Victorian gin palaces. Rested in Scotch whisky barrels for three weeks in keeping with the tradition that gin was sold from the cask rather than the bottle, the gin is released in batches of 5,000 individually numbered bottles. It was renamed in November last year to distance itself from an influx of other cask rested gins that are “more about innovation than history”.
Bathtub Gin
Price: approx £33.95
Described by Masters judges as a “fragrant” gin with a “sweet woody spice” flavour, Bathtub Gin is part of Maverick Drinks’ Professor Cornelius Ampleforth’s range. Made using the traditional “cold compounding” method which is controlled entirely by periodic sampling, the gin is distilled in “ultra small” batches and uses botanicals including juniper, orange peel, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. Its interesting apothecary-style brown paper packaging also lends itself to gifting.
Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve
Price: approx £62.95
The first major brand to enter the barrel-rested/aged gin category, Beefeater launched its Burrough’s Reserve in the UK and Spain in 2013. Recreated from brand founder James Burrough’s original 1860s recipe, the gin undergoes a short maturation process in Jean de Lillet barrels. Judges praised the expression for its “exceptionally complex age character”. Brand owner Chivas Brothers describes the gin as having a long and complex finish with subtle citrus, juniper and gentle spice flavours.
Portobello Road Gin
Price: approx £23.29
The only Master medalist in the popular London Dry Gin round was Portobello Road Gin. Initially created in a tiny pot still called “Coppernicus” at Notting Hill’s Portobello Star pub, the expression is now made by Thames Distillers and is commercially available in the UK. Portobello Road Gin’s botanicals include juniper, coriander, seeds, nutmeg and orange. Following a period of “exponential growth”, the brand said it will invest heavily in expanding its business this year – with the inclusion of a new Director’s Cut bottling.
Four Pillars Gin Navy Strength
Price: approx AU$95.00
Awarded Master in the Navy Strength category of The Global Gin Masters 2015, Four Pillars Gin Navy Strength is created using “Judy’s Everbearing” finger limes and organic oranges, coriander, star anise and fresh ginger. Judges said the expression had a “surprisingly soft” mouthfeel and “malty” flavour with a “hint” of spice. It is created by Yarra Valley-based Four Pillars Distillery in Australia.
Hernö Juniper Cask Gin
Price: approx £46.65
Another one from Swedish distillery Hernö, this gin is said to be the “world’s first” juniper cask matured gin. The ultra-premium expression is aged for 30 days in tiny casks made out of juniper wood. Praised by judges for its “citrus and spice” notes alongside an unusual “biscuit” flavour, Hernö Juniper Cask Gin was first launched in 2013.
